Staying safe this winter: how we can all play our part

Winter is one of the busiest times of the year. High streets fill up, Christmas markets pop up in towns and cities, and many of us are out more often for shopping, events and social gatherings.

With all that extra activity comes a bit more of everything: more travel, more crowds, and a few more things to think about when it comes to staying safe and feeling comfortable when we are out and about. Most of the time, our days go exactly as planned, but it is reassuring to know that there is clear guidance available if something does not feel quite right.

That is where ProtectUK’s winter toolkit comes in. It is a set of simple, practical messages created by UK security specialists to help organisations, staff and the public feel more confident about personal safety during the busy winter months. Rather than creating worry, the focus is on calm awareness, looking out for one another and knowing what to do if we spot something unusual.

What is the ProtectUK winter toolkit?

ProtectUK is the official platform for free counter terrorism and protective security guidance in the UK. It brings together advice, training and tools from Counter Terrorism Policing and partner agencies, with a strong focus on helping everyday organisations keep people safe in realistic, practical ways.

The winter toolkit is part of a seasonal campaign that recognises how busy our public spaces become at this time of year. It provides:

• Clear, reassuring safety messages that are easy to share

• Ready-made digital visuals for websites, social media and internal channels

• Poster and screen content for workplaces, venues and public areas

The idea is not to change how we enjoy winter events, but to add an extra layer of awareness in the background, in the same way we might check the weather or plan our journey in advance.

Staying alert without feeling anxious

A key theme in the winter toolkit is the difference between being alert and feeling anxious.

Being alert simply means:

• Taking a moment to notice what is going on around you

• Being aware of what feels normal for the place you are in

• Picking up on anything that seems deliberately out of place

It does not mean constantly scanning for problems or trying to investigate situations yourself. Security professionals, venue staff and the police are trained to deal with risks. Our role, as members of the public, is just to notice when something feels off and pass that concern to the right people.

In practice, that might be as simple as telling a member of staff about an unattended bag, or letting a steward know if you have seen something that does not sit right with you.

Trusting your instincts

Many of us have had that moment where something does not feel quite right, but we second-guess ourselves:

• “I am sure it is nothing.”

• “I do not want to make a fuss.”

• “What if I have just misunderstood?”

The winter toolkit encourages a different approach: to trust your instincts. If something makes you pause, it is absolutely fine, and encouraged, to mention it.

You are not expected to decide if something is genuinely dangerous. You are simply asked to share what you have seen or heard so trained staff can make that assessment. It is always better to speak up early and be reassured than to stay quiet and worry later.

Knowing what to do if you are concerned

One of the strengths of the winter toolkit is its clear, simple call to action:

• If you are in a shop, venue, station or event space and something does not feel right, speak to staff or security.

• If you ever feel there is an immediate danger to life, call 999.

• If you have seen or heard something concerning and want to share it afterwards, you can report it in confidence online at www.gov.uk/ACT.

You do not need special wording or detailed evidence. Just explain what you have noticed and why it caught your attention. The information can then be checked and, if necessary, passed to the appropriate teams.

How organisations can use the winter toolkit

For organisations that welcome visitors, learners, customers or staff on-site, the ProtectUK winter toolkit is a straightforward way to reinforce existing safety and safeguarding messages.

Typical ways to use it include:

• Sharing campaign visuals on websites, social media and staff intranets

• Displaying posters in entrances, staff rooms and communal areas

• Including a short “stay aware, report concerns” reminder in briefings and newsletters

• Highlighting who to speak to on-site if someone notices something unusual

For education providers and employers, this is also a useful moment to:

• Remind learners, apprentices and colleagues of local reporting routes

• Connect winter safety messages with wider wellbeing and safeguarding support

• Build confidence in speaking up, not just about security, but about anything that does not feel right

The goal is to create a culture where asking a question or raising a concern feels normal and supported.

Everyday habits that help keep everyone safe

You do not need specialist training to support these messages. A few small habits can make a real difference:

1. Take a moment when you arrive
   Notice exits, busy pinch points and where staff or information points are located.

2. Look after your belongings
   Keep bags with you and try not to leave items unattended, so that anything genuinely suspicious stands out more clearly.

3. Look out for others
   If a colleague, friend or learner mentions that something has unsettled them, encourage them to talk to staff or security about it.

4. Speak up early
   If something does not feel right, however small, pass it on. It is better to check and be reassured.

5. Follow instructions if something happens
   In the unlikely event that staff, security or the police give directions, follow them calmly and help others do the same.

These are all simple, everyday behaviours that blend into normal life and help create safer, more confident spaces for everyone.

A shared approach to a safer winter

Winter should be a time we look forward to: time with friends and family, celebrations, and all the small moments that brighten darker days. The ProtectUK winter toolkit is about protecting that, by quietly building awareness and confidence in the background.

By:

• Staying gently alert

• Trusting our instincts

• Knowing how and when to report concerns

we all play a part in keeping our communities, workplaces and public spaces safe.

If you would like to explore the official resources in more depth, the ProtectUK website hosts the full winter campaign toolkit, along with additional guidance and e-learning for organisations that want to strengthen their approach to safety and security over the winter period.